Betting Preview: West Brom

Everton welcome West Bromwich Albion to Goodison Park on Wednesday looking to seek revenge for a 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns back in September.

Paddy Power make David Moyes’ men odds-on favourites to pick up three points at 8/13 – an understandable decision considering the Blues have lost just once at home against the Baggies in the last 32 years.

Since 1981, Everton have won nine of 12 Goodison Park meetings between the two sides and have scored in every one of those fixtures since November 1982.

Their strong home record is just as impressive in recent Januarys, Everton having lost just one league game at Goodison during this month in the last five years.

As for this season, the Blues have suffered defeat just once at home, winning five in the process. What’s more, on four of those occasions they have triumphed by a single goal and they are 12/5 to continue that trend on Wednesday.

After an encouraging opening to the campaign, West Brom have suffered a stuttering start to 2013 and are on a run of six games without a win.

Indeed, the last time they tasted victory was on Boxing Day and Everton will be confident they can win to nil – a feat priced at 9/5 with Paddy Power.

The games between these two haven’t been particularly high scoring recently - in their last five meetings there have been just nine goals - and Paddy Power are offering odds of 11/10 that there will be fewer than 2.5 goals on Wednesday.

Interestingly, the next Everton player to score will net the 400th home goal of Moyes’ 11-year reign and history would suggest there’s a good chance of it being Victor Anichebe or Leighton Baines.

Nigerian Anichebe scored in both league games against West Brom last season and is 15/2 to open the scoring against Steve Clarke’s men this time around.

Baines, meanwhile, has three goals to his name already this season and is always a threat from set pieces. As a result, Paddy Power make the England international a supremely appealing 14/1 to open the scoring, while the left-back to score and Everton to win 1-0 is an intriguing 66/1.